Yes, I’m praying, God, please restore Bill’s vision. (Bill is not blind, but his Naion has left him with blind spots and partial vision in both eyes.) I’m human and that is my human prayer.

In the gospels, there are three different accounts of Jesus healing blind men, of fully restoring their sight.

In Matthew 20, Luke 18, and Mark 10 is the narrative of Bartemaeus, a blind beggar. Each of the three accounts provides a few unique details, but the end result was the same. When Bartemaeus heard Jesus was near, he called out to him, have mercy on me, be kind, meet my need. Jesus stopped; he heard Bartemaeus’ cry; he asked, What do you want me to do for you? Not only did Jesus stop, hear, and ask, he also granted Bartemaeus’ request, let me recover my sight. I loved Jesus’ affirmation, your faith has made you well.

In Mark 8, there is a story of another blind man. His friends brought him to Jesus. This account records a two stage healing. At first this blind man could kind of see, but things were still blurry … like men looking like trees. So Jesus laid his hands on him again and his sight was full restored.

John 9 records a third incident of a blind man being healed. This time Jesus himself initiated toward the man.

In each of these narratives a blind man’s vision is restored. In the first story, the blind man himself reached out to Jesus; in the second, the blind man’s friends brought him to Jesus; and in the the third, Jesus himself initiates.

Bill is reaching out to Jesus and praying his vision will be restored.
I am reaching out to Jesus and praying for Bill’s vision to be restored.
And by faith, we know that Jesus is reaching toward Bill with his perfect will.

The account in John 9 gives a more complete story. It’s not just about us! It encourages me yet leaves me with several questions.

The disciples who are with Jesus make an assumption that the blindness is a result of sin and ask Jesus about it.

“Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents,
but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
John 9:3 (bolding mind)
Am I willing to go through this hard situation so that the work of God might be displayed in my husband?

The neighbors didn’t get it either. It seems like they felt everything needed to be explained on a human level. Am I willing to be okay with things not being able to be explained by the doctors?

The Pharisees were confused. They didn’t like the fact that this blind man was healed on the Sabbath. They also saw Jesus as human and sinful. It didn’t fit their box. Bill’s Naion doesn’t fit my box either. Am I willing to live with mystery?

The parents of the blind man were more willing to go along with the crowd and their questions than identifying with Jesus and the miraculous. How often might I play the people pleaser role rather than risk being identified with God.

The testimony of the once-blind man,

“One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25)
“He said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him.” (John 9:38)

Am I willing to live with Bill’s Naion if it will shine the spotlight on Jesus who is indeed the light of the world?

In each of these three narratives, the sight of the blind is restored highlighting Jesus’ ability. I believe Jesus is able to also restore Bill’s sight, to erase his blind spots.

But the question is not about Jesus’ ability.
But, am I willing to live in the context of the bigger story?

I will follow Ann Voskamp’s advice. I will keep praying that Bill’s vision will be fully restored. And I will continue to trust that in this reality, that God is at work and something bigger and more important is happening.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
For the sake of Christ, then I am content
with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
II Corinthians 12:9, 10

 

Copyright, Sue Tell, February 2019

 

 

 

 

Is this the death of a dream or the deepening of a relationship?

“Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4, (underlines mine)

Sometimes it feels like death — or is it that I am not trusting?

Or perhaps, is it a door to something I cannot imagine? Maybe it will deepen my relationship with God; maybe it will deepen my relationship with my husband, or with you. All good.

Naion has been part of our life for almost a year. My husband, developed this condition in both eyes last spring.  Yes, we pray God, please restore Bill’s vision. And like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego testified in Daniel 3, we live in the tension of “our God whom we serve is able … But if not …” verses 17 and 18.

In our current reality of but if not, God has encouraged me with the familiar verbs in Psalm 23:4.

Walk — Don’t run, Sue; walk. Walk through it. Be present to the reality it offers you. “… just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4 Sue, this is an opportunity to live, to walk in the new life I have birthed in you.

I will fear no evil — These words leave me with a question, Sue, do you really believe that the
“… will of God is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2. If I do believe it, than there is no need to fear. And the changes Naion is bringing to us are good.

You are with me — God is present; God is aware; God is whispering truth; God is encouraging.
“For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?” Deuteronomy 4:7. God is near; He is walking with me.

They comfort me — Those instruments used for correction, protection, and direction, those things we may think of as harsh, God uses as a comfort. They communicate to the sheep that the shepherd knows and is prepared for any potential danger — even in the darkest of valleys. And the sheep trust their shepherd. Ahhhh, the comfort. Sue, are you willing to trust me, your shepherd in this Naion valley you are walking in?

Two weeks ago we were privileged to go on a MercyMe at Sea Cruise. MercyMe gave three concerts and shared a lot of their stories. Their lyrics are filled with the grace of God. Bart, the lead singer shared the story behind his song, Even If. Click here to listen to his story, hear the song, and be encouraged in the midst of your hard. (You can skip the ad in 4 seconds.)

He speaks of his son Sam who was also on the cruise. The last evening 17 year old Sam played his guitar and sang for us, Because He Lives, a powerful testimony and more so because we knew Sam’s story.

Even though Naion is our reality, it is not death, it is deepening.

Next Thursday: Healing the Blind

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-Changing God, that’s what I’d been doing.

Do you see it, the scripture reference on the bottom left hand corner?

Bob and Pat were one of many who penned that very same verse on the cards we received for our wedding. Truly, the many! It was like all our friends were in cahoots about what was important to communicate to us.

“… No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.”
Psalm 84:11b

Our friend Karen even made a calligraphy of those words and framed them for our wedding gift.

God wasn’t whispering, he was shouting, Bill and Sue, you who are my traveling companions, here’s my commitment to you, no good thing will I withhold.

And yes, we needed that commitment. It was one of the first scriptures that Bill and I prayed in our early married days. We were trusting God to provide money for food and rent, truly the basics.

As time went on, we started a personal, private prayer list. We were asking God for some very special things … and not sharing these desires with anyone else. We were asking God for some bonus good things.

Bill plays the piano and it is a significant way that he enjoys the presence of God. A piano went on our private prayer list. You guessed it. One day a church friend called and asked us if we would like their upright piano. Thank you, God … and our friends.

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor.”
Psalm 84:11a

Context is important! We had been concentrating of the last half of Psalm 84:11. The first half causes me to bow in humility. In his giving of good things, he is protecting and honoring us.

But just last fall, 46 years into our marriage, my friend Kate pointed out verse 12. Context is important!!

“O LORD of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!”
Psalm 84:12 (bolding mine)

Trust — one of my key lessons of 2018. I heard myself saying that word lots! Here it was again, part of the context of scripture that has been so important since day 1 of our married life. The psalmist is affirming those who trust that God is the giver of all good things, are a blessed people.

According to my Bible notes, the purpose of Psalm 84 is to cultivate delight … to write deep into our souls … the joy and pleasure of God’s house. Those who know this delight are indeed blessed. They are not short-changing God.

“For the Lord God is brighter
Than the brilliance of a sunrise!
Wrapping Himself around me like a shield,
He is so generous with His gifts of grace and glory!
those who walk along His paths with integrity
Will never lack one thing they need,
For He provides it all!
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
What euphoria fills those
Who forever trust in You!
Psalm 84:11, 12 from the Psalms, Poetry on Fire

I’d love to hear your stories too.

 

 

We all have them. Satan successfully whispers lies in our ears, things we come to believe about ourselves unless we cultivate the habit of Important Stuff!

My spiritual journey, like yours I imagine, has had many twists and turns, ups and downs. But in the midst there have been three major stakes that changed, matured, and helped me to navigate the realities of life.

The first was that time in college when I realized that being a Christian was not only my religion, it was a personal relationship, a friendship with Jesus. Responding to that truth changed me for eternity.

The second stake came 30+ years later. As a result of my husband’s severe burnout and depression, we had the privilege of participating in a two week counseling intensive. And that was the beginning of my Important Stuff  journey. This stake didn’t change me (Jesus had already done that), but it began a maturing process that continues to today.

The third stake (another maturing stake) was about 12 years later … more about that in a future blog.

“When you find yourself flagging
go over the story again and again.”
Hebrews 12:3, The Message

“to write the same things to you
is no trouble to me and is safe for you.”
Philippians 3:1

“on some points I have written to you more boldly
by way of reminder.”
Romans 15:15

That’s why Important Stuff is so important!

We all (well, at least I do) find ourselves flagging at different points and we desperately need encouragement. We forget. We need reminders!

The counseling intensive introduced me to myself. I learned my true identity. Underneath all my roles, I am the beloved child of my heavenly Father. My roles — which are forever — changing don’t provide my identity.

As a brand spanking new believer, I was introduced to John 1:12, “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God.” Back then I focused in on believe and receive never even noticing the children of God part.

The first scripture that caused me to hear my identity was I John 3:1, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us … called children of God … that is exactly who we are.” The Message.

Those two scriptures now anchor my relationship with God. I have them recorded in my Important Stuff journal. Most mornings they … and the many additional scriptures I’ve added over the years … are the first things I pray over. The first things I ask God about. What would it look like to trust my identity today?

This simple practice has been the key to my spiritual growth, to my maturing into who God created me to be, to live out of my identity not my current role, to smash the lies of the evil one.

My Important Stuff journal has changed from a cardboard cover to a leather cover. Important Stuff requires something a bit more substantial.

What are the practices that are the keys to your spiritual maturity?
What scriptures speak the truth you desperately need to hear?

“The one who has the bride is the bridegroom.
The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him,
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.
Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.”
John 3:29

Jesus is the bridegroom.
John the Baptist is the friend. He knows his identity.
Knowing our identity and knowing our role leads to joy!

PS. I have a few more of these small Important Stuff journals. Would you like to begin this practice of recording and reviewing the scriptures that speak Important Stuff to you? Let me know and I’d be glad to send you one.

Something different for you this week.

It was my honor to talk with Sharon Betters of MARKINC Ministries about my experience as my husband Bill suffered through a year of depression and severe burnout in 1999-2000.

Brew yourself a cup of coffee or a pot of tea and settle in to listen to our 40 minute conversation. Click here to begin. My prayer as you listen is that God will minister to you no matter what your circumstances.

Thank you, Sharon for this opportunity, a joy for me to be part of your Help and Hope ministry.

 

Next Thursday: Important Stuff

 

 

The memory is as clear as if it was yesterday. Our family (our two high school aged sons, Bill, and me) were sitting at our kitchen table in California. December was waning and we (actually they) were talking about new year’s resolutions. I was avoiding involvement in the conversation.

Why my resistance? Was it because of personal insecurity? Perhaps. My history with new year’s resolutions wasn’t stellar; I could usually successfully keep them until February. I didn’t want to set myself up for failure. Again.

But I think down deep something else was going on. Before I even began to think about the fact that I was a human-being not a human-doing, before I really grabbed hold of the gospel of grace, God was at work in my life.  The thought of making a plan to do something in the new year didn’t seem quite right to me. I resisted.

A few years ago, I was introduced to the thought of picking a word for the year. A word that characterized who you wanted to be.

At first I resisted. Wasn’t this the same as making a new year’s resolution?

But the niggling thought would not leave. And two years ago, I began the practice of having a word for the year.

You know, I’m not sure I remember any of my new year’s resolutions, but I can tell you my words. Rest was my 2017 word. https://suetell.com/reflecting-on-the-gallop/
Choose was my 2018 word. https://suetell.com/choose-2018/
Secure is my 2019 word.

Do you see a pattern? I do. Truly I believe God continues to deepen my understanding of rest.

Deuteronomy 33:12 in the NIV translation says, “… Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him …” And the other translations give me deeper understanding into those words. Often they are translated “the beloved of the LORD dwells in safety.”  But in the NIV, rest and secure are right next to each other.

I believe security which is known by God’s commitment is a basic need for all of us. And God desires to be our main provider. Am I experiencing God as my security? Is that leading to rest?

I might ask myself, if I’m not experiencing rest, I wonder if my security is misplaced? Am I looking to a ministry opportunity, or a certain family time for my security, or obtaining a certain goal, or, or, or?

For 2019, secure is my word. I’m trusting that I will grow in experiencing God as my security and that will lead to a deeper understand and reality of rest for me.

I wonder, what might be the word God wants you to trust him for in 2019?

Having a word for the year is a popular phenomenon. There are books to read on the concept; there are workshops to participate in. The Dayspring company even offers a multiple-choice quiz to determine your word of  the year. (I took the quiz and was surprised by their suggested word … although it could be a piece of the definition of secure for me.)

But all these helps encourage finding your word as opposed to asking God to reveal your word.

One BIG suggestion – Don’t just think about what you want for the year and come up with a word that describes it, ask God what his word is for you for the year. Then pray for several days, asking God to confirm his choice of a word for you. I believe that this will lead to a spiritually  transforming new year, instead of a word that is no different from a resolution that may not last past Valentine’s Day. And as Grace says below, it helps you live intentionally.

Grace Cho, writer, editor, and speaker said it this way in her article, “Why Finding Your Word Matters” …

“I wonder what God is whispering to your soul as you look toward the new year. I wonder what word He has for you and what ways He’s going to work that word out in your life. He is speaking, and He is wanting you to hear. He wants you to draw near, to be bold in obedience, to stay rooted, and to grow more into maturity in Christ.

Be still, even when things are not, and seek the word He has for you, seek His purpose for the year ahead. Let’s live intentionally this coming year!”

And when you hear from God, and if you would like to share it, I’d be honored to pray for you.

“The faithful love of the LORD never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!””
Lamentations 3:22-24, NLT

and May your experience of God be more real than ever in 2019!

 

What a special gift to us these 5 are. The oldest are visiting from Kansas; the younger 3 from California. We are rarely all together. So these moments are precious. Thank you for allowing Echoes of Grace a brief pause.

“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,”
Proverbs 17:6a

Echoes of Grace returns next week sharing on A New Year’s Resolution or a New Year’s Word. Come by next Thursday for my big reveal.

Blessings to you as we jump into a new year and all God has for us!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing (as you trust),
so that
by the power of the Holy Spirit
you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13, (parenthesis mine)

A benediction for “Christmas Words” to carry you into the new year.

Last month The Navigators asked me to write an article to put on their social media sites about discipleship in the month of December.

Click on the link below to see my offering. Please know that the 4 principles I shared are applicable any month of the year.

Discipleship in December

May you continue to receive the joy, peace, and wonder of the Christmas season and may it follow you into the new year.
This is my prayer for you. Amen!

Christmas Words, Advent 2018
Receive is a Christmas Word – This concept is foundational for all the other Christmas words.
Joy is a Christmas Word
Peace is a Christmas Word

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Our GRAND-son Jack was three years old when his mother captured this moment as he stood in awe seeing his first real rainbow. This picture hangs on the wall above my desk reminding me of the gift God offers in wonder.

Children are naturals at wondering.

As a child of God sometimes it’s easy to lose the ability to wonder. I don’t want that to be true of me!

Zechariah, Mary, Elizabeth, the Shepherds, Simeon, even Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s neighbors give clues helping define wonder. Check out Luke 1 and 2.

Questions are important, really important to understand wonder.
“You learn more by living with the questions than knowing all the answers.”
Bill Tell, my hubby

When Gabriel visited Zechariah while he was serving in the Temple (Luke 1:8-18), Gabriel’s first words were “God has heard your prayer” referring to Zechariah’s desire for a son. I wonder, was this a prayer Zechariah prayed in his 20s, or 30s, or maybe even his 40s? Or as an old man, was he still asking God for a son? The scriptures don’t tell us.

Gabriel continued,
“You will have great joy.”
“he (the son) will be great in the eyes of the Lord.”
“He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth.”
And much more.

Zechariah did question Gabriel. But his question was not one of wonder, his question communicated doubt and asked for proof. Not the roadway to wonder.

Gabriel also visited Mary. (Luke 1:26-38) In his first words to her, he affirmed her. “The Lord is with you … you have found favor with God.” He went on to share …
“You will conceive … and bear a son.”
“He will be called the Son of the Most High.”
“And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.”
And much more.

Mary too had a question, but unlike Zechariah’s question, her question was one of wonder. “How will this be …?” Mary’s question did not ask for proof, she asked about the process. It was a question of wonder.

Synonyms for wonder abound in the Christmas narrative.

“Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood …” Luke 1:65 NLT
“Everyone who heard about it reflected … and asked …” Luke 1 66 NLT
“All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,” Luke 2:18
“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Luke 2:19 ESV
“But Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.” Luke 2:19 NLT
“All who heard him were amazed …” Luke 2:47 NLT and ESV (This is 12 years later referring to Jesus.)
“And his mother stored all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:51 NLT (treasured up, ESV)

Wonder is not asking for proof,
it is expecting God to be God
when we have no idea how that will happen.
Wonder makes me to ask, what might my assumptions cause me to miss?

Author John Blase suggests, “Truths unlived are not truths.” Wondering, pondering, reflecting allows up to live with questions, to live with truth and let it become ours.

I’ve found that wondering, reflecting, pondering lead to stability.

“and he will be the stability of your time,
abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;”
Isaiah 33:6

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A scripture to meditate on: “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Luke 1:45

A question to ask: What has God spoken to you and asked you to believe (trust)?

A prayer to pray: God, please create in me a wondering, pondering heart who learns to trust and experience the stability only you offer. Amen

 

 

 

Receive is a Christmas Word. Both transformative & foundational.
Joy is a Christmas Word .

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Peace is a Christmas Word!

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1

Paul penned a very bold statement to the church at Rome … and the Holy Spirit speaks it to us. We have peace, right now, in whatever circumstances, present tense.

But is that peace our reality?

In the midst of writing this post, I’m surrounded by friends battling cancer, living with the destruction of the Camp Fire, the imminent death of a parent, even computer issues potentially stealing the peace of God we are promised.

I remember walking into the counselor’s office with Bill for the first time. I’m sure he (the counselor) noticed my self-protective posture and the defensiveness in my countenance. At that moment my life was emanating the very opposite of peace. But by our second day with him, my shoulders were relaxing, my jaw was un-clenching, and trust was beginning to flow. And as trust flowed, peace followed. Peace, another fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) became my reality.

As Hebrews 12:11 describes, “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” took over.

What made the difference?

Jesus was there waiting for me. His peace was mine to receive;
and receiving is different from finding.

I began experiencing the counselor’s help.
I began trusting his wisdom.
With grateful humility I received what he offered.

Peace is a Christmas Word.

Peace is another gift Jesus offers. Peace is ours to receive.

Jesus, the gift we celebrate at Christmas is the peace we long for.

Isaiah prophesied about Jesus long before he was born calling him the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Jesus testifies about himself that he is leaving us his gift of peace which looks different from the peace we expect in the world. John 14:27
Paul describes Jesus as Lord of peace in his benediction to his letter to the Thessalonians.
II Thessalonians 3:16

Peace is a Christmas Word. Peace is a gift that is ours to receive.

Kara Tippetts, in the introduction to her first book says, “In the depths of my illness, I have been able to set aside my striving and look for God’s presence in my suffering. My season of weakness has taught me the joy of receiving, the strength of brokenness, and the importance of looking for God in each moment … because hard is often the vehicle Jesus uses to meet us, point us to that peace, and teach us grace.” The Hardest Peace. (Italics within quote, mine)

This second week of Advent two of my friends also penned blogs about peace. I think you’ll appreciate their words. Thank you Janet Newberry, Recognizing Peace This Christmas and Cheri Johnson, You Can’t Buy Peace.

https://janetnewberry.com/recognizing-peace-this-christmas/

https://cherideejohnson.com/you-cant-buy-peace/

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A scripture to meditate on: Isaiah 53:5, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

A question to ask: What would it look like for me to experience Jesus’ peace being brought to me?

A prayer to pray: God, I want your peace to be my reality. Today, help me to receive the peace you have promised. Amen

Next Thursday, Wonder is a Christmas Word.